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BROWN, Artemas, a leading physician and well known citizen of Leon, Decatur County, Iowa, was born at Louisville, Ky., April 11, 1859. His parents were Rev. Artemas Brown and Margaret Agnes Thorp Brown. His father was for forty years a Methodist minister and for twenty-five years a member of the Des Moines Conference. He filled many of the important appointments in his conference and was presiding elder of the Chariton District when he died. He was born on a farm near Marietta, Ohio, December 17, 1822, and was educated at the Drew Theological Seminary, Concord, N. H. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Judge Green, at Audubon, Iowa, February 9, 1890. The mother was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, December 9, 1822, and was married to Rev. Brown in 1852. She is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Green, at Audubon. They first came to Iowa in 1864. His father being a Methodist minister and never living more than three years in a place, Dr. Brown received his early education in the schools of the different towns where they lived. He began his college course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in the fall of 1880. This first year of college proved a hard struggle, for he had only $150 that had not come easily, to depend upon. He and four other students kept "bachelors' hall" and managed to get through, their board only costing them $1.50 per week. After this first term he went to Westerville, Decatur County and began the practice of medicine. He returned again to the same college in 1886 and graduated in the spring of 1887. In the fall of the same year he moved to Leon, Iowa, where he has since remained. He is a registered pharmacist, and from 1888 to 1890 was a partner with T. E. Homer in the drug business. He was appointed examining surgeon of the Bureau of Pensions in 1888 and reappointed in 1895, and is now acting in the capacity of secretary. He has been twice elected coroner of the county and is now president of the Decatur County Medical Society. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Phythias and the M. W. A., being camp physician of the latter. He has always been a republican and has taken active part in every campaign since becoming a voter, but has never been a candidate for any office, except the government appointment of pension surgeon above mentioned. He is a member of the Methodist church. He was married November 7, 1883, to Miss Hattie E. Dunn of Clinton, Iowa. They have four children, two boys and two girls: Maggie May, John Melvin, Artemas Jr., and William, the baby. Since locating in Leon, Dr. Brown has been very successful and has built up a practice equal to any in the county. He is secretary of the Leon pension board and medical examiner for the Iowa Life Insurance Company, the Northwestern of Milwaukee Bankers' Life of Des Moines, M. W. A. and the Bankers' & Merchants' of Chicago. He is recognized not only as a leading man in his profession, but as an upright and influential citizen in his community. His success in the future is assured. |
